A section of Route 5 will remain closed until at least 6 or 7 p.m., officials said.
This post updates stories published at 6:44 p.m. Thursday, and on Friday at 8:00 a.m. and 9:33 a.m.
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Gregory Neffinger said the city is preparing for the potential evacuation of approximately 30 streets in the city’s Merrick section should the need arise as CSX Corp. personnel work to remove 2 derailed railroad tankers — one carrying a chemical that is “more flammable than gasoline.”
The mayor said the residents will be evacuated only if the double-walled tanker containing the chemical, known as butyraldehyde, develops a leak.
There is no evidence that the tanker is currently leaking, Neffinger stressed.
02.22.2013 | WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Route 5 was closed to traffic Friday after two railroad tankers derailed Thursday evening.FACTS ABOUT BUTYRALDEHYDE
- What is it? A colorless, flammable liquid produced by five companies in the United States. Used by companies that make rubber accelerators, synthetic resins, solvents, plasticizers, and high molecular weight polymers. Occurs naturally in some plants and foods; evaporates when exposed to air, dissolves if mixed with water, but toxic to aquatic life.
- Hazards: Highly flammable; vapor / air mixtures are explosive
- Exposure risks: Cough, sore throat (inhalation); redness (skin contact); redness, pain (eye contact); burning sensation (ingestion)
- Disposal warning: "Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment."
- Packaging / labeling requirements: Highly flammable liquid and vapour; May be harmful if swallowed; May be harmful in contact with skin; Causes serious eye irritation; Harmful to aquatic life.
- Additional warnings: "The vapour is heavier than air and may travel along the ground; distant ignition possible."
Sources: CDC; EPA
Residents within the potential evacuation zone will soon be notified of the potential for an evacuation via the city’s reverse 911 or robo-dial system.
CSX brought in cranes to right the tankers that derailed at the railroad trestle crossing the Connecticut River at about 6 p.m. Thursday night. The cranes began lifting the tankers early Friday afternoon.
Neffinger said officials determined that using the cranes would be more expedient than transferring the chemical to another tanker.
“They feel confident they can pick them up,” Neffinger said.
They mayor, speaking at about noon, said the entire process may not be completed until 6 or 7 p.m.
That means, he said, that Route 5 will remain closed from the Memorial to the North End bridges for the afternoon and evening rush hour.
Should a leak occur during the lifting process, residents will be notified immediately by telephone and given the option to evacuate either to West Springfield Middle School or to a place of their own choosing.
Earlier today, residents of the three streets closest to the tankers, Globe, Bridge and Railroad streets, were subject to a mandatory evacuation. Some 14 of those residents opted to take provided school buses to the middle school.
If needed, those buses will be on hand to evacuate the additional residents, Neffinger said.